Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-05-27


foot Of the hill. After tina: the advance was
a little slower, for although as yet we had
offered no serious opposition, the attacking
force had to come up hill, and came slowly
to save their breath. Our first line of de-
Tense was about half way up the side, our
second fifty yards further back, while our
third occupied the edge of the plain.
On they came, shouting their war cry,
''Twala! Twala! Chiele! Chielew CTwala
Twala Smite. Smite). 'Ignosi! 1gnosi'
Chiele. Chieler' answered our people
They were quite close now, and the tollas,
or throwing knives began to fash backward
and forward. and now with an awful yell
the battle closed in.
To and fro swayed the mass OF struggling
warriors, men falling thick as leaves in an
autumn wind; but before long the superior
weight of the attacking force began to tell,
and our first line of defense was slowly
pressed back, till it merged into the second.
Here the struggle was very tesce, but again
our people were back and up, till at length,
within twenty minutes OF the commencement
of the fight, our third line came into action.
But by this time the aSsailantS were much
exhausted, and had besides lost many men
killed and wounded, and TO break through
that third impenetrable hedge of spears
proved beyond their powers. For awhile the
dense mass Of struggling warriors swung
backward and forward in the fierce ebb and
flow of battle, and the issue was doubtful
Sir Henry watched the desperate struggle
with a trembling eve, and then without a
word he rushed OFT, followed by Good, and
flung himself into the hottest of the fray. As
for myself | stopped where was.
Tie soldiers caught sight OF his tall form
as he plunged into the battle, and there rose
a cry Of
'Nuzta Hlctbur' Here is the ElephantD
"ChicJc! ChieIer
From that moment the issue was no Longer
in doubt. Inch by inch, fighting with des-
perate gallantry the attacking force was
pressed back down the hillside, till at last il
retreated upon its reserves in something like
confusion At that moment too, a meSSen
ger arrived TO say that the left attack had
been repulSed; and was just beginning TO
congratulate myself that the affair was over
for the present when, to our horror, we per-
ceivci our men who had been engaged in
the right defense being driven toward lis
across the plain, followed by swarmS of the
enemy, who had evidently succeeded at this
point
lgno,i. who WAS standing by me, took il
the stu tion at a glance, and issued rapid
order. Instantly the reserve regiment round
us (the GrLysl extended itself.
Again Ignosi gave word of command
which was taken up and repeated by the cap
tains, and in another second, to my intense
disgust. | found myself involved in Il furious
onslaught upon the advancing foe. Getting
I 4 hTIu
frame, | made { best of bad job, and
todded along to be killed, as though | liked
it. In minute or twO-the time seemed al
too short to me-we were plunging through
the flying groups of our men, who at once
began to reform behind u.s. and now am
sure | do not know what happened. All
can remember is dreadful rolling noise OF
the meeting shields, and the sudden appari
ton of a huge ruiian, whose eyes seemed
literally to be starting out of his head, max
iIrg straight at me with bloody spear. Blu
i say 1t with prde-l rose to the occasion
1t was an occasion before which most people
would have collapsed once and for all. See
ing that il stood where was / must be
done for, |, as the hOrrid apparitiOn came
flung myself down in front of HIM so clever
~, that, being unable to stop himself, III
took a header right over my PROSTATE form
Before he could rise again, l had risen anC
settled tie matter from behind with my re-
yulver
Shortly after this, Somebpdy knocked me
down, and | remember no more of the
change.
When ! came Ia found IN, self back al
the koppic. with Good bending over me
with some water in rOurtl
How do YOU feel, 0ld fellow" he asked
anXiOusly.
got up and shool. myself before answer
ing.
Pretty well. thank yor, answered.
Thank heaven! when / saw them carsy
you in felt gate sick. ! thought yoa were
done for
Not this time, my boy. fancy only
got rap on the head which knoc'.ed me
out OF time. How has it ended"
"They are rcpulstd at ever, point for the
time. The loss is drcadfully heavy; we have
lost quite two thousand killed and wounded
and they must have lost three Look, there's
Il sight!' and he pointed TO long lines OF
men advancing by fours. In the center of
and being borne by each group of four, was
kind of hide tray, of which u kukuma
force always carried Il quantity, with LOOP
for Il handle ut each corner. On these trays
and their number seemed Cn,iICsS-lay
wounded men, who as they arrived were
hastily examined by the medicine men, of
whom ten were attached to each regiment
If the wound was not of fatal character
the sufferer was taken away and attended
to as carefully rs circumstances would allow
But if, on the other han l. the wounded
mans condition was hopeless, what followed
was very dreadful, though doubtless ii was
the trueSt mercy. One of the doctors, under
the prctCnSc ot carry iuT ont an examination
swiftly opened an artery with y sharp knife,
and IN minute or two the sui rcr expired
paiuleSSly. There were many eases Tat dly
In which this was done In fact it WIS done
in most eases when the wound WAS in the
body, f.r the cash made by the entry of the
enormously broad spears used b. the kuku-
anaS generally rendered recovery hopeless
III most eases the poor sun I - were al
ready mcnn>ClUuS, and in Others the fatal
nick of the artery was done 50 swiftly and
palnleSsly that they did not seem Ia notice
IT, Still 1t was CHASTITY sight. and one from
which we were glad tO escape: indeed,
never remember one which aiTcctr,t M more
than seeing those gallant SOdierS thus put
out OF pain by the p,d-handed medicine men,
except, indeed, on an occasion. when after
an attack, | saw Il force of SwaZ.S burymg
their hopclcSSly wounded alive.
liuTymg from this dreadful scene To the
further side OF the koppie, we found Sin
Henry (who still held a bloody battle-ax in
his HANDY, lgnosi, Iutadoos, and one or two
of the chiefs III deep consultation.
asIbnnL, lInoVnu baY,l Won ara
main! can't quite make out what lguoS
wants to do. II seems that, though we have
beaten off the attack, Twala is now receiy
ing large rcinforrcmentS, and is showing .
disposition TO invest us, with view oil
starving us out"
That's awkward"
Yes; especially rs lntadooS says that tie
water supply has given out
My lord, that is So" said mradooS: 'the
spring cannot supply the wants of 50 great Z
multitude, and is failing rIpi lly. Before
night we shall all be Thirsty. Listen. MaCu.
mazahn. Thou art wise, and hast doubtless
seen many wars in the lands from whenc,
thou cameSt-that is, il, indeed, they MAKE
wars in the stars. Now tell us what shall
we do? Twala has brought up many fresh
men tn take the place of those who have
fallen. But Twala has learned lesson: the
hawk did not think TO find the heron ready;
but our beak has pierced his breast; he will
not strike at us again. We, too are wound
Ell. and he will wait for us 10 die: he will
wind himself round US like Il snake round q
buck, and light the fight Of sit down.
Il hear yuu," | said.
NacumsZahn, thou Seest we have
water here. and but little food. aud We
must choose between these three things-tC